duchess of bedford

[Lou Barron]

on one of the trips after dropping off troops in suez we went to aden there we embarked italian prisoners of war around about 2000 of them we were to take them to durban sa we got to yarn to some of them who could talk a bit of english they ask us for cigarettes one of them gave me a leather belt with the names of places in italy done in copper studs for some ciggies i gave him but alas that belt ended up in the bottom of the south atlantic ocean they use to sing alot and they sounded very good they were no trouble to some of the passengers we was to have a aboard

[calway]

Hi Charles

As per private message, my dad is the guy in the middle on the first picture, and the guy on the end in the second picture.

Thanks, Cal

[calway]

This is the actual picture the italien POW made

[Lou Barron]

ni cal got your email alright but i am afraid that i do not reconise any of the guys in the photos i left the duchess in april 1942 i did not know that many of the catering crew but we did carry italian pows but that would be in 1941 it was a good ship to serve on

[calway]

Hi Charles

Thanks for getting back and letting me know!

Cal